Drug-user Benjamin Sandford was arrested - after police saw him buying drugs in a car park.

Police officers had their attention drawn to the 35-year-old when they spotted him behaving suspiciously in Leek.

Prosecutor Christy Woods told North Staffordshire Justice Centre: “Shortly before 1pm officers saw the defendant in a small car park in Compton. Due to the way he was acting, he was monitored.

“They saw a moped approach and a brief transaction occurred between the rider and the defendant.”

Benjamin Sandford pleaded guilty to the possession of drugs

Police stopped Sandford and he was searched. Officers found drugs that were later confirmed to be heroin and crack cocaine.

Sandford, of Westwood Heath Road, Leek, pleaded guilty to two charges of possessing a Class A drug following the incident on April 23. The court heard he has previous convictions for drugs offences.

Rebecca Dulson, mitigating, said: “We are dealing with very small amounts of drugs here, for the defendant’s own personal use. He was appearing before the courts on a regular basis but we have seen a gap in this defendant’s offending. That’s because he now has stable accommodation and a methadone prescription.

“He had a blip and turned back to illicit substances but he has not used any since this date.”

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